Hot Topics:

1 injured in grain truck-trailer collision Monday

By Jenni Grubbs

Times Staff Writer

Posted:
08/05/2014 09:23:18 PM MDT

Rescue workers struggle Monday evening to remove the flaked corn and twisted metal to free the driver of the grain tender that crashed broadside with a refrigerated trailer Monday afternoon south of Fort Morgan at the 13000 block of Morgan County Road 19. It was 8:45 p.m. Monday when they removed the trapped driver of the grain tender, according to Morgan County Sheriff Jim Crone. (Jim Crone / Courtesy photo))

Removing debris and cargo was not an easy task for rescue workers seeking to free the trapped driver of a grain tender that crashed broadside with a refrigerated trailer Monday afternoon south of Fort Morgan at the 13000 block of Morgan County Road 19. (Jim Crone / Courtesy photo))

Area law enforcement agencies, fire departments, emergency workers and private citizens spent four hours Monday afternoon and evening separating two large vehicles that crashed broadside and left one of the drivers trapped.

The crash happened about 4:45 p.m. Monday south of Fort Morgan at the 13000 block of Morgan County Road 19, according to Morgan County Sheriff Jim Crone.

He said it took the rescue workers until 8:45 p.m. to free the trapped driver, who was then flown by helicopter to North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley in critical condition.

Rescue workers from many agencies and other area helpers attempt to separate a refrigerated trailer full of frozen beef and a grain tender carrying flaked corn after the two vehicles crashed broadside Monday afternoon south of Fort Morgan at the 13000 block of Morgan County Road 19. The crash left the grain tender's driver "crushed and completely buried inside the trailer," according to Morgan County Sheriff Jim Crone, who said the man survived and was flown by helicopter to the hospital in Greeley for surgery. (Jim Crone / Courtesy photo))

"Initial responders could only speak to the driver through the wreckage, and it was probably 30 minutes before rescuers could dig and climb their way through the trailer to cut a hole big enough to even see the driver," Crone said. "Two fire departments struggled for the next four hours — yes, four hours, before they were able to finally remove that young man from his seat."

But once they did, they were able to get him on the North Colorado Medevac helicopter and sent off to Greeley, Crone said.

The sheriff said he found out this morning that the unidentified man had survived the surgery he got at the hospital, but no other information about his condition was available as of press time Tuesday night.

"When he left Morgan County, he was in critical condition. I heard this morning that he was still alive, and hopefully, he's improving," the sheriff said late Tuesday afternoon.

Crone gave lots of credit to all the various people and agencies who helped with the rescue. They included: Colorado State Patrol, Brush and Fort Morgan volunteer firefighters and departments, Morgan County Ambulance Service, North Colorado Medevac, Morgan County Emergency Management, Morgan County Road & Bridge and Morgan County Sheriff's Office.

These two large trucks wound up crashing into each other Monday afternoon, when one was pulling out of a business's driveway and the other struck it broadside, leaving the driver of the grain tender trapped until rescue workers and helpers could free him several hours later. (Jim Crone / Courtesy photo))

"When all was said and done, there were close to 50 personnel on scene," Crone said. "'Kudos, tip of the cap, good job', doesn't even come close to recognizing the efforts of all involved in trying to save the life of this young man. Brush and Fort Morgan firefighters, you guys rock."

But there were many other people who helped, too, the sheriff said.

"A special thanks to Brandon Kroskob, Chance Middlemist and Stratton Kraft, who brought large loaders in to help move and stabilize wreckage, and especially to Barry Lebsock of Lebsock's Repair for his big wrecker and truck expertise," Crone said. "Fort Morgan Pet Foods employees helped to off-load and move hundreds of pounds of blocks of frozen meat from the trailer. We could not have pulled this off without their help."

This crash left the sheriff a bit shaken.

"I have seen a lot of wrecks in my basically 40 years of emergency response, but this one was a once-in-a-career operation," Crone said. "I don't remember another incident where so many tools were used during a single rescue operation. Being able to watch the work of these guys and ladies was one of the most memorable I will have."

He also offered "prayers for this young man and his family," who the sheriff said likely has "a long road ahead of him" for recovery from the crash. "But this kid is a hell of a fighter, with the patience of Job, to maintain himself, badly injured, for that length of time."

Article Comments

We reserve the right to remove any comment that violates our ground rules, is spammy, NSFW, defamatory, rude, reckless to the community, etc.

We expect everyone to be respectful of other commenters. It's fine to have differences of opinion, but there's no need to act like a jerk.

Use your own words (don't copy and paste from elsewhere), be honest and don't pretend to be someone (or something) you're not.

Our commenting section is self-policing, so if you see a comment that violates our ground rules, flag it (mouse over to the far right of the commenter's name until you see the flag symbol and click that), then we'll review it.